What's the Matter Here
10,000 Maniacs
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That young boy without a name I'd know his face In this city the kid's my favorite I've seen him I see him every day Seen him run outside looking for a place to hide from his father The kid half naked and said to myself "Oh, what's the matter here?" I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses, he's their kid I stay out of it But who gave you the right to do this? We live on Morgan Street Just ten feet between and his mother, I never see her But her screams and cussing, I hear them every day Threats like: "If you don't mind I will beat on your behind" "Slap you, slap you silly" Made me say, "Oh, what's the matter here?" I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses, he's your kid, do as you see fit But get this through that I don't approve of what you did to you own flesh and blood "If you don't sit on this chair straight I'll take this belt from around my waist and don't think that I won't use it!" Answer me and take your time What could be the awful crime he could do at such young an age? If I'm the only witness to your madness offer me some words to balance out what I see and what I hear All these cold and rude things that you do I suppose you do because he belongs to you And instead of love, the feel of warmth you've given him these cuts and sores won't heal with time or age And I want to say, I want to say "What's the matter here?" But I don't dare say "What's the matter here?" But I don't dare say
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Written by: ROBERT BUCK, NATALIE MERCHANT
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Album Classification"What's the Matter Here?" is one of the acclaimed songs by the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs from their 1987 album "In My Tribe".
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Song ThemeThe song tackles the serious issue of child abuse, manifesting the band's ability to weave profound social messages into their music.
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Chart PerformanceDespite dealing with a heavy topic, the song made it to the Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks where it ranked as high as #9 in 1988.
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Music Composition"What's the Matter Here?" is noted for its catchy, jangly guitar background that adds a bit of sunshine to its otherwise grim subject matter.
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Band Member ContributionThe lyrics to the song were penned by lead vocalist Natalie Merchant and guitarist Robert Buck.
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Live Performances"What's the Matter Here?" became one of the band's staple songs during live performances, praised for its raw energy and Merchant's emotive stage presence.
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Social ImpactThe song led to increased discussions about child abuse within circles that had previously had little exposure to the topic, showing the influence popular music can have in social awareness.
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Critical ReceptionWhile the song received steady radio airplay, it garnered mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its engaging tune and bold lyrics, while others found the topic too disturbing for a pop song.
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Music VideoThe music video directed by Matt Mahurin further underscored the song's narrative, depicting scenes of a dysfunctional family and hinting at the presence of abuse.
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LegacyDespite being released more than three decades ago, "What's the Matter Here?" still continues to resonate with listeners due to its timeless tune and hard-hitting subject matter.
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Citation
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"What's the Matter Here Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32811237/10%2C000+Maniacs/What%27s+the+Matter+Here>.
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